#wirraway

[nocternalrandomness]

A 1940 CAC CA-3 Wirraway in RAAF paint seen at the 2026 Warbirds over Scone

[usafphantom14]

Royal Australian Air Force Wirraway

@AviationGeekclub.com

The swift and decisive defeat of RAAF CAC Wirraway aircraft (an Australian development of the North American NA-16 training aircraft) at Rabaul in January 1942 resulted in the type being permanently withdrawn from use as a fighter. However nearly a year later, the Wirraway would score its one and one only aerial victory. Through a combination of skill and good luck, its pilot scored a quick and decisive kill. To this day the victim is often wrongly proclaimed as a “Zero.”

In November 1942, No. 4 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), commenced operations in New Guinea with Wirraways serving in an army co-operation role. Aircraft were detached to Popondetta to support the 7th Australian Division and to Dobodura to support the American 32nd Army Division. Meanwhile, on Dec. 18, 1942, the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) arrived at Rabaul in the form of sixty 11th Sentai Nakajima Ki-43 Mark I Hayabusa fighters. The contingent constituted the first Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) fighter unit in New Guinea. It arrived with high expectations, having won prestige through it combat history in Indochina.

[destinationsjourney]

CAC CA-16 Wirraway A20-653

CAC CA-16 Wirraway A20-653 at the RAAF Richmond Air Show 28 September 2025

[usafphantom2]

Two paintings I’ve done of the RAAF Commonwealth Air Corporation ‘Wirraway’ (Challenge). The federally-funded CAC, for their debut project, instead of a new design from scratch, chose to modify an existing design, the North American AT-6 Texan.

@petehill854 via X

[usafphantom-2]

Painting l did in 2013.

RAAF CAC Wirraway having a close encounter with a JAAF Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (‘Oscar’)

Gouache on paper 40 x 65cm

@PeteHill854 via X

[bigglesworld]

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-1 Wirraway. Aboriginal for 'Challenge'

[redarmyscreaming]

CAC Wirraway Considering it first flew in1937 and the last retired in 1959, speaks for itself.  Me thinks the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 had a lot to do with it.  Plus a likely simple and robust construction.The dual Lewis guns add a "cool" touch.  If I were a gunner, back there, I'd give the "T" hand symbol, for a "time out," to the enemy pilots, while I changed magazines...

[bigglesworld]

Commonwealth CA-16 Wirraway Mk3 VH-WIR. Australian training and general purpose ac. 755 of the type were built between 1939-46. At Adelaide YPPF in 2010